Chord chart for C♯7♭9 Guitar Chord (C♯ dominant 7th flat 9th): Notes, Shapes & How to Play | Guitar Wiz

C♯ dominant 7th flat 9th guitar shapes

Popular fretboard positions with fingering suggestions

Showing 8 of 44 playable shapes

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C♯ dominant 7th flat 9th guitar chord diagram showing fretboard positions

About the chord

C♯ dominant 7th flat 9th guitar chord

C♯7♭9 is the C♯ dominant 7th flat 9th guitar chord. It uses the notes C♯, E♯, G♯, B, and D and the interval formula 1-3-5-♭7-♭9.

The C♯ dominant 7th flat 9th dominant 7th flat 9th chord adds a flat ninth D to the dominant 7th, enhancing its dissonance and harmonic tension. This exotic, unresolved color is popular in jazz and classical cadences for creating dramatic resolutions.

Also written as C♯dom7♭9 and C♯7(♭9).

Root note: C♯
Quality: dominant 7th flat 9th
Chord tones: 5
Playable shapes: 44

Chord tones

C♯E♯G♯BD

Common guitar voicings

These are quick-start shapes for players who want the answer first and the deeper theory second.

Shape x43434

x43434

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string and 4th string in barre position.
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 4th fret of the 5th string.
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 4th fret of the 3rd string.
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 4th fret of the 1st string.
  5. 5 Strum from the 5th string down.

Shape x40464

x40464

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 4th fret of the 5th string.
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 4th fret of the 3rd string.
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 4th fret of the 1st string.
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 6th fret of the 2nd string.
  5. 5 Let the fourth string ring open.
  6. 6 Strum from the 5th string down.

Notes & Intervals

Each note below shows how the chord is built from its root. This is the theory layer underneath the fretboard shapes.

C♯ Unison (Root) 1

The root anchors the chord and defines its tonal center.

E♯ Major Third 3

This note defines the chord's major quality and brings brightness to the sound.

G♯ Perfect Fifth 5

The fifth reinforces stability and gives the chord its strong harmonic frame.

B Minor Seventh ♭7

The minor seventh adds bluesy or jazzy tension that wants to move onward.

D Minor Ninth ♭9

The flat ninth adds sharper tension and a more dramatic clash.

Shape details

Every shape is shown with its diagram and exact fingering instructions.

C♯ dominant 7th flat 9th shape x43434

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string and 4th string in barre position
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 4th fret of the 5th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 4th fret of the 3rd string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 4th fret of the 1st string
  5. 5 Do not play the sixth string
  6. 6 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

C♯ dominant 7th flat 9th shape x40464

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 4th fret of the 5th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 4th fret of the 3rd string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 4th fret of the 1st string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 6th fret of the 2nd string
  5. 5 Let the fourth string ring open
  6. 6 Do not play the sixth string
  7. 7 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

C♯ dominant 7th flat 9th shape 980707

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 7th fret of the 3rd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 7th fret of the 1st string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 8th fret of the 5th string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 9th fret of the 6th string
  5. 5 Let the fourth and second strings ring open
  6. 6 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

C♯ dominant 7th flat 9th shape 980797

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 7th fret of the 1st string and 3rd string in barre position
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 8th fret of the 5th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 9th fret of the 6th string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 9th fret of the 2nd string
  5. 5 Let the fourth string ring open
  6. 6 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

C♯ dominant 7th flat 9th shape 980709

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 7th fret of the 3rd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 8th fret of the 5th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 9th fret of the 6th string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 9th fret of the 1st string
  5. 5 Let the fourth and second strings ring open
  6. 6 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

C♯ dominant 7th flat 9th shape 980a0a

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 8th fret of the 5th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 9th fret of the 6th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 10th fret of the 3rd string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 10th fret of the 1st string
  5. 5 Let the fourth and second strings ring open
  6. 6 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

C♯ dominant 7th flat 9th shape 9b0a09

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 9th fret of the 6th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 9th fret of the 1st string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 10th fret of the 3rd string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 11th fret of the 5th string
  5. 5 Let the fourth and second strings ring open
  6. 6 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

C♯ dominant 7th flat 9th shape xxba0a

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 10th fret of the 3rd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 10th fret of the 1st string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 11th fret of the 4th string
  4. 4 Let the second string ring open
  5. 5 Do not play the sixth and fifth strings
  6. 6 Strum from the fourth string down to the first string

Quick answers

What notes are in C♯7♭9?

C♯7♭9 uses the notes C♯, E♯, G♯, B, and D. Its interval formula is 1-3-5-♭7-♭9.

What is another name for C♯7♭9?

C♯7♭9 is also written as C♯dom7♭9 and C♯7(♭9).

How do you play C♯7♭9 on guitar?

Place the 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string and 4th string in barre position. Place the 2nd finger on the 4th fret of the 5th string. Place the 3rd finger on the 4th fret of the 3rd string. Place the 4th finger on the 4th fret of the 1st string. Strum from the 5th string down.

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